HYPEROL
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
The Purdue Frederick Company, exploiters of Gray’s Glycerine Tonic, have recently been advertising to the medical profession a nostrum called Hyperol. The following report to the Council, by the referee, was adopted and its publication authorized.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
According to the label, Hyperol is “A Utero-Ovarian Corrective and Tonic.” The circular accompanying the trade package states that it is:
“Indicated in all functional diseases of women such as: Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Menorrhagia, Metrorrhagia, Subinvolution, and in all conditions requiring a utero-ovarian corrective and tonic.”
From another circular we learn that:
“Hyperol is a combination of Hydrastine, Aloin, Iron, Apiol and Ergotin. Its components to a certain extent will indicate its action, but the therapeutic effects of each ingredient seem to be augmented to an unusual degree by use in this particular combination. The proportions of each have been determined by extensive clinical experimentation, and the formula seems to be exactly balanced to produce the best therapeutic effects in all derangements of the utero-ovarian functions.”
This “formula” is not very enlightening and a physician who wrote for further details was told that Hyperol contained:
Hydrastin | 1⁄40 | gr. |
Aloin | 1⁄12 | gr. |
Iron salts | 3 | gr. |
Apiol (Special) | 3 | ♏ |
Ergotin | 1 | gr. |
| And excipients. |
If this is correct, then, so far as its active ingredients are concerned, Hyperol is but a mixture of well-known drugs, having contradictory properties. According to the claims in the circular quoted above, it is useful both in amenorrhea and in menorrhagia. The mixture is as unscientific as it is unnecessary. It cannot be adapted to any individual case; when ergot is indicated, apiol would naturally be contra-indicated; if aloes is appropriate, hydrastis may defeat the object sought. It is unnecessary because no intelligent physician would prescribe such a combination of drugs in any given case. The claims are exaggerated, improbable and foolish. Hyperol conflicts with the following rules of the Council:
Rule 4, in that statements on the label and in the circular enclosed with the trade package advertise it to the public in the treatment of diseases.
Rule 6, in that exaggerated and unwarranted claims are made for its therapeutic qualities.
Rule 8, in that the name of this pharmaceutical mixture fails to disclose the potent constituents.
Rule 10, in that it is unscientific.
It is recommended that publication of this report be authorized to call attention to the unscientific character of such complex mixtures.
[Editor’s Note: Hyperol is advertised in American Medicine and the St. Paul Medical Journal.]—(From The Journal A. M. A., April 18, 1914.)